Sanibel Alpha Vampire Werewolf Menage (Fanged Romance Series Book 5.5) (14 page)

“My marks I earned, whether from bravery or from punishment. Doesn
’
t matter now, since they are a part of me.
”
He held the shirt he
’
d worn by the collar and elongated his claws. In blurring speed, he shred it in four long pieces.
“
My piercings are another matter all together, My Mate. I was denied my Tribal Inflixx as a Youngling, yet I still craved my due.  I started with these
” —
he waved as hand over his face and chest
— “
after you asked Gage to keep me in Scotland.
”

“I refuse to feel guilty over that.
”
However, she felt a strange static under her skin when he walked to the first post and secured a strip of fabric.  

“After I helped female after female rejoin life on the topside, killing those Habalines who came after them, and then also helping their Youngling bastards learn how to make lives for themselves while living in their new Pack, I demanded my Tribal Inflixx from Ciaran and my clan,
’
tis my due.
”

“Tribal Inflixx,
”
she repeated, remembering Rebecca and Renee describing the multiple, tribal piercings boring a werewolf male
’
s penis for nothing short of bravery and honor.  They usually started with their first in their upper teen years and when they past adult status, had many borings in their oversized cocks. Over the months Jude had protected her, she
’
d spotted a glimpse of his now and then.

“I take it Jayce and Bren never persuaded Ardan Senior to reconsider their punishments.
”

“What punishments?
”

He stopped on the third post, securing the knot.
“
They never told you our tale, did they?
”

Tatum saw Mike
’
s luggage in the corner, with one small carryon opened wide atop the largest suitcase.
“
They
’
ve told me many things, why?
”

“Not everything,
”
he said with a laugh.
“A tale for afterwards, though
.
”

“If you
’
re trying to drive a wedge between Jayce, Bren, and me, don
’
t bother.
”

A curve lifted the corner of his mouth, a mocking smile actuating those silver rings in his lips, as he finished tying the fourth bedpost.
“
I never want to come between you three again. Unless we
’
re all enjoying a bout of sex.
”

“You
’
d better start thinking about something else.
”

He stared at her with raw determination.
“
How confident are you that you don
’
t want me?
”

She tapped her foot.
“
Very.
”

“Are you a betting lass?
”

“No riddles, say what you mean,
”
she demanded, her stomach doing those flips again.

“Forget the two hours, I
’
ll accept thirty minutes with you alone, completely naked, without you uttering the word no once. If time passes and I cannot change your mind about accepting me back in your life, I will stay here in the guesthouse for the next six months. I
’
ll be a father to Ardan and simply an overprotective friend to you.
”

She knew there was a catch in there.
“
You would risk six months for a thirty minute shot; you
’
re that confident?
”

He stretched out his thick shoulders, his biceps pumping with his movements, exuding base sexuality.
“
The fine print is that I get another go at you in six months.
”
Spreading his legs shoulder width apart, he hooked his thumbs in the back of his jeans, all casual, completely male.
“
I
’
m staying here no matter what, since I won
’
t leave my son or you.  I already love him.
”
His snug-fitting crotch strained over his bulge, not that she was looking, but it was a powerhouse within itself.
“
And I won
’
t allow others to gossip about our family.
”
For a second, Mike appeared haunted.
“
I won
’
t allow any more gossip to go on behind Ardan
’
s back.
”
He shook his head, some strands of ebony hung beneath his golden-streaked brown.
“
That shit sticks forever, Tatum.
”

She tapped her chin with nervous fingertips. He truly loved Ardan.  Furthermore, if she could buy another six months, yeah, she
’
d do whatever
…
with certain conditions.  
“
Fifteen minutes,
”
she started her negotiations.

Pursing his lips a sinful second he nodded.
“
Agreed.
”
He jerked his head toward the bed.
“
Get naked and spread your legs.
”

Oh, he
’
d been hanging around Ciaran and his bygone-century males for far too long.
“
Back to where it all began,
”
she said, eyeing his restraints while crossing her arms,
“
with me manacled on a bed at your mercy.
”
Nonplussed, Mike reached for a few items in his unzipped bag. Some of the stuff she was familiar with, especially the items Jayce and Bren had used on her before her pregnancy, but most of what he brought appeared to be hardcore bondage.
“
This isn
’
t going to fly with me, not today, not in a million years.
”  
She waved her hand at his bag of tricks.

“Okay, forget this stuff.
”  
He eyed the bed critically, resting his knee on the edge of the mattress.
“
Strips of cloth are not manacles.
”
Discretely, he placed something on the side of his knee, out of her line of vision. Mike patted the center of the mattress for her to climb atop, like his obedient puppy dog.
“
I
’
d never hurt or frighten you, never again.  Besides, do you really think Jayce would allow me here if he thought I would?
”

“I repeat, no restraints.
”
On the desk behind her, she reached for the stapler.
“
Fabric strips are nothing to you, but I still can
’
t break away from them once they
’
re tied.
”
His lips curved, eyeing the second shittiest weapon she reached for in the past half hour. Where was that steak knife when she needed it?

“If you can
’
t run, I won
’
t turn werewolf,
”
he explained.  
“
I
’
ve been away from my appointed Mate for too long.
”
He held himself utterly still, his eyes so vividly blue, yet they swirled with those silver flecks.
“
It
’
ll just be you and me.  As calm as you want to make it, as heated as you will allow. Of course
” —
he twirled his lip rings with his pierced tongue, reminding her of exactly what a werewolf
’
s tongue could accomplish while inside a female
— “
if you want me to go into mid-trans, maybe lengthen appendages at will, feel free to ask or beg.
”

 Licks of heat stroked her back when he moved right before her in blurring speed, nearly pressing his body to hers, tiny inches separating them. He curled his larger hand around hers, bringing the stapler to his throat and, knowing what he was about, Tatum grew instantly wary and tried to wrench her hand away. His smile was calculating when he shoved it against his throat, pressing his hand on hers so it felt as if she used that damned stapler on him all on her own.

“You
’
re sick.
”

“You
’
re the one who slipped it from the desk, wanting to use it against me.
”
He pulled the staple out with one protracted claw, flicking it to the floor.  Blood welled within two tiny pricks, but didn
’
t drip.
“
You
’
ve just proven you really don't
 want to use your weapon on me, Tatum.
”
He stepped even closer, pressing the hard line of his erection against her stomach, holding her in place with his hand gripping her ass.
“
Admit it.
”
He took the stapler from her hand, tossing it behind her.
“
Shall we behave like grownups now?
”

“
No,
”
she whispered, a shiver rolling over her.  Immediately, a blast of heat left Mike
’
s body and penetrated hers.  Jayce could warm her like that, sense when she had the chills and send his Alpha
’
s heat to her body.  Apparently Mike could, too.

“This situation between us has to be resolved,
”
he said, trailing a finger down the column of her throat, staring down at her with his eyes flashing his Beast.
“
Fifteen minutes,
”
he reminded.  In blurring speed, her top hit the floor, followed by her bra. He stopped then, his eyes bouncing from breast to breast.
“
I can
’
t believe you are mine, in my arms no less.
”

She opened her mouth and then closed it, second guessing herself.  
“
Fine, I
’
ll keep the fifteen minute agreement,
”
she  snapped, bracing her fists on her hips.
“
Nothing compares to mating Bren or Jayce when they
’
ve released their Beasts under a full moon, so  I
’
ve grown tougher since the last time we were
…
intimate.
”
She jutted her chin, staring up at him.  
“
But I won
’
t fuck you.
”

He stiffened, but not for the reasons she thought.  
“
I will never fuck you,
”
he hissed under a low breath.  

Tatum shook her head.  
“
Play on words.  Call it what you want.  But you won
’
t enter me.
”
She pushed him away and  pointed a finger pistol at his crotch without taking her eyes from his.  
“
Not with your cock entering anyplace in my body.
”

“Tatum,
”
he warned darkly.

“
These will be my two exceptions, Mike. I think they are fair, considering.
”  
She had to prove him wrong. That she didn
’
t desire him in the way he insisted, so they could move on to a companionable friendship instead, which was more comfortable for her.

“Refusing my cock is quite an exception, My Mate.
”
He gripped her hips and pulled her body off the floor,  her shorts and panties disappearing in a flash.
“
Playing hard to get might work for you in the short term, but I
’
ll have you soon enough.  And if you make me wait too long, you might find the size of me a little
” —
he circled his hips, driving his hardened cock against her
— “
uncomfortable to handle.  Considering I
’
ve done nothing more than jack-off for an entire year, staying faithful to someone who
’
d sooner wish me castrated than mate me, my patience has come close to leaving me.
”

Coming from a werewolf, this was dangerous.  Beasts needed relief or they grew increasingly unstable, nearly violent.  
“
On, second thought,
”
she said, pushing at his shoulders yet still landing smack in the middle of the bed.
“
Maybe we should start with you feeding me your blood.
”